Jharkhand: After announcing schemes like lunch of Rs 5 and opening bank accounts for every girl born in Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, the Jharkhand government has come up with yet another scheme for the poor.

Under the new scheme, around 35 lakh BPL families will get one kg salt for 50 paise only. Families falling under Antyodaya scheme will be able to avail the benefits of the scheme. Every BPL family will get one kg iodized salt every month.

Chief Minister Arjun Munda has directed Food and Supplies Department to launch the scheme from this month. The state will bear the cost of buying salt.

Presently, Rs 40 crore has been earmarked for the scheme, sources said.

Munda to hear grievances

Chief Minister Arjun Munda will now listen to grievances of people. For timely and speedy solution of public grievances, Munda has directed Department of Information Technology to set up two call centres in this regard.

Through one call centre, public complaints will be directly sent to the Chief Minister while second one will register complaints regarding disaster management, home affairs, heath services, etc.

Munda has also directed the aforesaid department to complete all formalities in this regard and make phone numbers public.

Ten residential schools for minorities

In a bid to provide better environment for study to minorities, the state government has decided to set up 10 residential schools out of which five will be for girls only.

Minority Welfare Minister Haji Hussain Ansari said that Sachar Committee described the condition of minorities as pathetic.“The state government is taking the report seriously. Presently, there are 23 residential schools for Scheduled Castes and four for backward classes,” said Ansari.

Also, Rs 250 lakh have been earmarked for renovations and development of these schools.

Under the Bicycle Distribution Scheme, Rs 8 crore and Rs 21.70 crore were sanctioned for SC and backward classes respectively, last year.